Even at $499, the PlayStation 3 would still be priced well
above its prime competitor – the Xbox 360 Premium at $349. Earlier this month, a
report surfaced saying that Sony will introduce yet another PlayStation 3
iteration that could potentially occupy the $399 level.

The $399 model is speculated to come with a 40GB hard drive
with no pack-in title. Sony would be expected to carry the 80GB model at $499
with MotorStorm or other title.
Furthermore, Sony may sweeten the deal by bundling with either one or both SKUs
with Spider-Man 3 on Blu-ray Disc.

A recent
FCC filing by Sony may have revealed several new
details about an upcoming PlayStation 3 model. Although the majority of
technical details and photographs have been blocked from the public’s view at
Sony’s request, the information available is able to confirm that the upcoming
model – designated CECHG01 – is indeed a PlayStation 3 at the core.

Technologies described in the filing include Bluetooth,
802.11b/g WiFi, along with a number of I/O ports. The FCC report states that
only two USB ports were tested (current PS3s have four ports) and there were no
mention of memory card reader tests. Since the FCC is a radio test, it may not
have required extensive testing of select PS3 features.

"We are going to continue to work with them to make sure they understand the reality of the Internet. A lot of these people don't have Ph.Ds, and they don't have a degree in computer science." -- RIM co-CEO Michael Lazaridis